How to kayak with us

By Appointment: Public Paddling and Kids & Family Paddle

Starting on the last Wednesday in May and continuing through August, we offer free kayaking for the general public every Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. In September, free kayaking continues on Saturdays only. Kayakers can paddle around our protected embayment for 20 minutes with stunning views of the NYC skyline.

We provide the boats, paddles, and life vests, and you do the paddling! Read our FAQ to learn more.

On summer Sundays through August, our free program is open just for kids and their guardians. Kids aged 7 and older can paddle solo (as long as a guardian is present) thanks to additional on-water safety boaters from The Kayak Foundation who are specially trained to work with kids. Read our FAQ to learn more.

Appointments open up exactly two weeks in advance, so if it feels like there are no appointments available for the rest of the summer, that’s because most of them haven’t actually opened yet. Appointments for 10 AM open up at exactly 10 AM two weeks in advance, and then 10:20 AM, 10:40 AM, etc.

Walking Up

Everyone asks if you can try to paddle without an appointment. The simple answer is “Maybe.” 🙂

We’re a volunteer-run program with a limited number of boats—and we never want to go back to the days of 90- to 120-minute waits to paddle. That’s why we use a reservation system. That being said, some people cancel at the last minute or simply don’t show up, so we normally have some open slots if you’re willing to wait for a short period of time.

What we advise is that if you happen to be in Brooklyn Bridge Park while we’re open, you’re welcome to swing by to see if we have an opening, so long as you’re super polite to our desk staffers if they have to say no because we’re fully booked. They’ll be honest with you if it’s worth sticking around to wait for an opening. Thanks for your understanding!

Kayak Polo

Kayak polo is a mix of basketball, water polo, and kayaking. And it’s a whole lot of fun! Games are open to the public and free for all. No experience is necessary—we’re happy to teach you what you need to know. Read our FAQ to learn more.

Where to find us

We’ll be at Pier 4 Beach (not Pier 2!) until further notice. When you see our information table—and our kayaks on the water—you’ll know you’re in the right place!

Getting to Us

Please note: Parking is extremely limited near the park. We strongly advise taking public transportation. Google Maps or the MTA Trip Planner (enter the location “Pier 4 Beach”) can help you figure out how to get to us.